Hiding the Word in Your Heart

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word... Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:9,11.

There are many reasons to memorise scripture yet I wish to speak specifically of the power to triumph over sin. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the word of God speaks directly to you? Maybe you are about to do something, say something, or even simply indulge a train of thought... Then, from what seems to be out of nowhere, a Bible verse comes to mind and convicts you of your sin. For me it is usually before I say something, and it is usually Proverbs 27:15 that comes to mind :) I wanted to write about this to encourage you to memorise scripture for yourself, but more particularly to help your children do the same. At the tender age of three our son is like a sponge and will memorise anything and everything that is spoken around him (sometimes things I would prefer he didn't).As the verse above proclaims, by hiding the word of God away in our hearts we are able to recognise the opportunity to sin and turn away from it. How can a young man cleanse (make clean or keep pure) his way (the actions that constitute his life)? by taking heed thereto (observing, watching for, refraining or abstaining) according to the word of God... How can he best take heed of the word? By knowing it! By hiding it in his heart! He will become tender to the things of God, and be continually changed into the likeness of Christ. Is this not the prayer of ever Christian parent?

When we started learning verses it was sporadic - infrequent and never followed up. We are now however moving toward a much more structured plan that is based on themes. Each theme has five verses that usually last us for almost two months (this gives us a verse a week, another week for review and then a little room to move). At the beginning of each theme, I create some simple posters for the verses and stick them to the pantry doors. Each verse has a different colour boarder (younger children, not yet reading, will find these colours useful when referring to particular verses)

To memorise the passage we use repetition and real life. Here are a few examples:

1. We read our verse out loud as a family at the end of our morning and evening family devotions (this way we know that even if our days are full we have visited our verse at least twice).
2. We create actions to help us remember and to make the K.J.V. words more accessible (i.e. 'seek' is not a word regularly used by three year olds so we put our hands up to our foreheads as if we are looking for something)
3. We sometimes sing verses to simple tunes or march around the dining room table, saying the verse, clapping and playing percussion instruments (I'm sure we must look ridiculous but it creates a memory and helps us to remember)
4. We apply it to different situations as they occur (This is perhaps the most powerful point because it makes it real and relevant).

I think it is important to note that our son does not always understand the verses he memorises - we explain each one we learn but he is only three and sometimes they are just above his level. What the most important thing is, is the memorising - one day God will use that verse, stored up inside his heart, and then he will understand it.

I know there are many other ways of teaching and learning Bible verses, these are simply to ones we use. I would love to know what you and your family do... please share your methods and experience in the comments section.

I pray that this simple little post has been of encouragement to you,
God bless,
Laura